Windows

August 31, 2023

Students: Come to the Unleashed Conference Sept. 10

Join the Student Ministry for the Unleashed Conference on Sunday, September 10! Unleashed is a gathering of middle school, high school, and college students from our community for a night of fellowship and worship. We will gather at FPC at 4:00 p.m. and board vans to Poplar Ridge Christian Church in Piney Flats. The evening will include dinner, games, a speaker, and worship. You must register to reserve a seat in a van, otherwise we may not have enough transportation. We plan to return to FPC around 8:30 p.m.

Our Adult Choir Wants You!

The Sanctuary Choir has resumed weekly rehearsals on Wednesdays at 7:15 p.m. Come sing with us! The choir is a welcoming place for all singers, young and old. We would love to start our year with some new faces. If you have an interest in or any questions about the choir, email Pat Flannagan.

Youth Choir Rehearsals Begin Next Week

FPC Bristol Youth Choir (grades 3rd-8th) is resuming for the Fall 2023 season, and we want all enthusiastic singers to participate. No singing experience or music reading ability is required! All you need is a desire to learn how to read music and lead worship through song.

Participation is only a four–week commitment. Practices will be on Wednesdays from 7:15 to 7:45 p.m. in room 209, from September 6 through September 27. Wearing black pants and our FPC Youth Choir T-shirts, we will perform for the 9:00 and 11:00 services on Sunday, October 1. If you have any questions, please text Melissa Galliher at (276) 219-7770.

“Obrigado por Tudo”

“Thank you for everything,” said João Batista and Rosângela, as they took their leave of us at Tri-Cities airport last week.

Thanks to everyone who helped to make their visit so memorable! You gave them so many opportunities to reconnect with old friends and make many new ones during what turned out to be a very busy schedule.

The visit officially kicked off Saturday night with a welcome dinner hosted by some of us who had traveled to Brazil in the past, as well as by members of the Missions & Outreach and Missionary Emergency Fund Advisory committees.

Standing out among the many, many small gatherings and impromptu conversations were João Batista’s preaching on the grounds; a hike for a Roan Mountain sunset; Barter’s Footloose; speaking at Rotary; a Wednesday night fellowship presentation; speaking to 45 soccer players (translated by the Brazilian players); fishing on Boone Lake; Rosângela’s speaking at the Thursday Women’s Bible Study; meeting with the Tuesday Prayer Group; speaking at the Saturday Bristol Area Men’s Fellowship Breakfast; an island cookout with the Fusion Class; and meals with friends. One of the more memorable moments came when João and Rosângela were introduced to the Mission Wall. They were visibly moved by their presence there and the impact the complete wall conveys of God’s work in the world through FPC.

Our congregation proved once again to be incredibly engaging and warmly welcoming to our Brazilian brother and sister. We were truly blessed by their presence, and they felt blessed to be so warmly and enthusiastically received.

João and Rosângela shared with us the current joys and challenges they face and just how important our partnership is to the ongoing mission and ministry of the Bethel School and the churches of Felipe Camarão and Cidade Nova. They covet our constant prayers for the congregations, the church leadership, the school teachers and staff, and the 130 students and families who grow stronger each day through the message of Christ’s love and hope for their lives, which is the foundation of everything they do. /John & Karen Vann

Organist's Footnotes

Sunday’s sermon will expound on Exodus 3:1–15, the story of Moses’s encounter with the Burning Bush. What better time to reprise my organ transcription, “The Burning Bush” (our opening voluntary)? It is an excerpt from the soundtrack of the motion picture The Prince of Egypt. This 1998 DreamWorks Animation musical drama is an adaptation of the Book of Exodus. It follows the life of Moses from his time as a prince of Egypt to his leading of the children of Israel out of Egypt. Hans Zimmer (b. 1957) composed the score. He has composed music for more than 150 films, including The Lion King, the Pirates of the Caribbean series, Interstellar, Gladiator, Crimson Tide, Inception, Dunkirk, and The Dark Knight trilogy. He has won four Grammy Awards, three Classical BRIT Awards, two Golden Globes, and an Academy Award. “The Burning Bush” is the music for the scene in which Moses encounters God. It aptly conveys the sense of wonder and awe that Moses experienced.

Nadia Boulanger (1887–1979) had an extraordinary career as a highly sought after music teacher and conductor. She taught many of the leading composers and musicians of the 20th century. Much of her teaching was done in her family’s flat in Paris, where she taught for the better part of seven decades, until her death at the age of 92. Boulanger was the first woman to conduct many major orchestras in America and Europe. She conducted several world premieres, including works by Copland and Stravinsky. Most of her own compositions date from her younger years. She largely stopped composing to concentrate on teaching, which she found to be much more lucrative. Gabriel Fauré believed she was mistaken to stop composing, but she told him, “If there is one thing of which I am certain, it is that I wrote useless music.”

I will play her Three Improvisations for the remainder of Sunday’s service music: “Petite Canon” for the offertory, “Improvisation” for communion, and “Prélude” for the closing voluntary. These little gems were composed in 1911, when Boulanger was approximately the age she appears in the photograph (early 20s). “Improvisation” and “Prélude” are set in minor keys; they crescendo then end quietly in major keys. We expect “Petite Canon” to do the same, but Boulanger coyly thwarts our expectations, as if to say, “Not this time!” /Bob Greene

We want to pray for and celebrate with you! Send us your prayer requests and glad tidings.



Memorial for Vickie Coleman Friday

A memorial to honor the life of Vickie Coleman will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday, September 1, at Tennessee Avenue Baptist Church. The family has requested that attendees email their favorite pictures and memories to be shared during the service. The church is located at 104 Cypress Street in Bristol.

The session continues to encourage masks for those at higher risk of complications from COVID-19 or not fully vaccinated. The session encourages everyone to consult their medical professional about vaccinations and boosters.

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We encourage you to use text, mail, or our website to safely continue your faithful support of our ministries. Give online here; choose a fund from the drop-down menu. Text fpcbristol to 73256 to send your pledge, offering, or special gift to the church. Messages and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. Text HELP to 73256 for help. Text STOP to 73256 to cancel. If you prefer, you may mail your contribution to the church.

701 Florida Avenue | Bristol, TN 37620 | 423-764-7176 | fpcbristol.org